APRIL 6, 2006

Fat Lady sings in Gascoyne crisis

Toyota Motorsport and Mike Gascoyne have reached a mutual agreement which will see both parties terminate their working relationship with immediate effect. Gascoyne will remain a fully contracted employee of Toyota Motorsport until the end of October 2006, which is the maximum time that is legally allowed. One presumes that Gascoyne's contract is being paid out in full as it seems that Toyota was more keen to rid of him than he was to get rid of them.

"Nobody can dispute that Toyota has made a big step forward over the last two seasons," Gascoyne says. "We have now reached a crossroads in our working relationship and I believe that it is the right time for us to part ways amicably and for me to move back to the UK where I can also enjoy spending more time with my family."

The team expressed its gratitude to Gascoyne for all the work he has done.

"This separation should in no way undermine the work he has done, nor reflect his technical expertise," says Tsutomu Tomita, Chairman of Toyota Motorsport. "We all wish him well for the future."